Bible: Jeremiah 33

The Lord Promises a Second Time to Restore Israel and Judah

33:1The Lordspoke1to Jeremiaha secondtime whilehe was stillconfinedin the courtyardof the guardhouse.233:2“I, the Lord, dothese things. I, the Lord, formthe plan to bringthem about.3 I am knownas the Lord. I sayto you,33:3‘Callon mein prayer and I will answeryou. I will showyou greatand mysterious4things which you still do notknowabout.’33:4ForI, the LordGodof Israel, have something more tosay about the housesin thiscityand theroyalbuildingswhich have been torn downfor defenses against thesiege rampsand militaryincursionsof the Babylonians:533:5‘The defenders of the city will go outand fightwiththe Babylonians.6But they will only fillthose houses and buildings withthe dead bodiesof the peoplethatI will killin my angerand my wrath.7That will happen becauseI have decided to turn my back on8thiscityon accountof the wicked thingsthey have done.933:6But I willmost surely10heal the woundsof this city and restoreit and its people to health.11I will showthemabundant12peaceand security.33:7I will restoreJudahand Israel13and will rebuildthem as they were in days of old.1433:8I will purifythem from allthe sinthatthey committedagainst me. I will forgivealltheir sins whichthey committedin rebellingagainst me.1533:9Allthe nationswill hearabout allthe goodthings whichIwill doto them. This city will bring me fame, honor, and praisebefore them for the joythat I bring it. The nations will tremblein aweat allthe peaceand prosperitythatIwill providefor it.’16

33:10 “I, the Lord, say:17 ‘Youand your people are saying18about thisplace, “It lies in ruins. There are nopeopleoranimalsin it.” Thatis true. The townsof Judahand the streetsof Jerusalem19will soon be desolate, uninhabitedeither by people or by animals. But happy sounds will againbe heardin these places.33:11Once again there will be sounds20of joyand gladnessand the gladcelebrationsof bridesand grooms.21Once again people will bringtheir thank offeringsto the templeof the Lord and will say, “Give thanksto the Lordwho rules over all. Forthe Lordis goodand his unfailinglove lasts forever.”22ForI, the Lord, affirm23 that I will restorethe landto what it was24 in days of old.’25

33:12 “I, the Lordwho rules over all, say:26 ‘Thisplacewill indeed lie in ruins. There will be nopeopleor animalsin it. But there will againbe in it and in itstownssheepfoldswhere shepherdscan resttheir sheep.33:13I, the Lord, saythat shepherds will once againcounttheir sheepas they passintothe fold.27 They will do this in all the townsin the southern hill country, the western foothills, the southernhill country, the territory of Benjamin, the villages surroundingJerusalem, and the townsof Judah.’28

The Lord Reaffirms His Covenant with David, Israel, and Levi

33:14 “I, the Lord, affirm:29 ‘The timewill certainlycomewhen I will fulfillmy graciouspromise concerningthe nations ofIsraeland Judah.3033:15In thosedaysand at that timeIwill raiseup for them a righteousdescendant31of David.

33:19The Lordspokefurther toJeremiah.3833:20“I, Lord, make the followingpromise:39 ‘I have made a covenantwith the day40and with the nightthattheywill always comeat their proper times. Only ifyou people41 could breakthat covenant33:21couldmy covenantwithmy servantDavid and my covenant withthe Levites ever bebroken. So Davidwill by all means always have a descendantto occupyhis throneas kingand the Leviteswill by all means always have priestswho will ministerbefore me.4233:22Iwill makethe childrenwho follow one another in the line of my servantDavidvery numerous. Iwill also maketheLeviteswho ministerbefore me very numerous. I will makethem all as numerousas the stars in the skyand as the sandswhich are on the seashore.’”43

33:23The Lordspokestill further toJeremiah.4433:24“You havesurelynoticedwhatthesepeopleare saying, haven’tyou? They are saying,45 ‘The Lordhas rejectedthetwofamiliesof Israeland Judah46thathe chose.’ So they have little regardthat my peoplewill everagainbe a nation.4733:25But I, the Lord, make the following promise:48 I have made a covenantgoverning the coming of dayand night. I have established the fixedlaws governingheavenand earth.33:26Just as surely asI havedone this, so surely will I never rejectthe descendantsof Jacob. Nor will I ever refuseto chooseone of my servantDavid’sdescendantsto ruleover the descendantsof Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Indeed,49I will restorethem50 and show mercyto them.”